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Climate Change and Potential Effects on Microbial Air Quality in the Built Environment

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Climate Change and Potential Effects on Microbial Air Quality in the Built Environment Climate Change and Potential Effects On Microbial Air Quality in the Built Environment Prepared for: The Indoor Environments Division Office of Radiation and Indoor Air On behalf of: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Prepared by: Philip R. Morey, Ph.D., CIH ENVIRON International Corporation Gettysburg, PA 717-337-2324 [email protected] Date: September 15, 2010 Contents Page 1.0 LEGIONELLA.................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 GEOGRAPHICALLY EMERGING PATHOGENS OTHER THAN LEGIONELLA THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT............... 3 3.0 AIR-CONDITIONING AND CLIMATE CHANGE............................................................. 4 4.0 OUTDOOR AIR VENTILATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE............................................. 7 5.0 POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE/SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AFFECTING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT...................................................... 9 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 15 FIGURES ................................................................................................................................. 19 1.0 LEGIONELLA Legionella species are normally present in outdoor environmental reservoirs such as lakes or streams. However, these bacteria can colonize and amplify in man-made water reservoirs including potable water systems and cooling towers. Inhalation of water droplets containing Legionella species dispersed from cooling towers and potable water outlets (e.g., showerheads) can cause lung infections (Legionnaires’ disease) which may be fatal. Approximately 18,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease occur annually in the USA (Squier, et al., 2005) with a case fatality rate of about 20% for community acquired disease and up to 40% for hospital acquired disease. This translates into an annual fatality total of about 4,000 to 5,000 in the USA (Squier et al., 2005; Benin et al., 2002). The risk of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak caused by exposure to mists or drift generated outdoors from a cooling tower is usually recognized by facility operators of modern commercial and public buildings. However, the risk of exposure to Legionella aerosols from potable water outlets, especially in residences and hotels, is often overlooked. Studies during the past five years have suggested that increases in community acquired Legionnaires’ disease may be associated with climate change (Fisman et al., 2005; Ng et al., 2008; Neil and Berkelman, 2008; Phillips, 2008). In the eastern USA and in Europe, Legionnaires’ disease increases have been associated with rainfall and warm and humid weather. Wet humid weather six to 10 days before the occurrence of disease symptoms was, in one study (Fisman et al., 2005), the best predictor of Legionnaires’ disease. The incidence of disease, not surprisingly, was also found to be higher during warm summertime months. Enhanced reporting of disease occurrence and better diagnostic tests for Legionnaires’ disease did not appear to be responsible for the increased risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with wet-humid and warm weather. 1 A possible link between severe wet humid weather patterns and increased incidence of Legionnaires’ disease may be the dispersal of organic sediment into municipal water systems and the resulting increased turbidity of drinking water supplies. It is well known that potable water in pipes in buildings can be contaminated by Legionella species entering from public water systems (States et al., 1987). If future work confirms that climate change-severe weather events (e.g., excessive precipitation and flooding) are associated with increased Legionnaires’ disease incidence, mitigation efforts involving better filtration or appropriate chemical treatment (e.g., chlorination) of mains water entering buildings as well as better maintenance of potable water systems pipage in buildings may ameliorate the disease risk. It has been estimated that 80% of Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks are associated with potable water systems in buildings (Keane, 2009). It is also well known that Legionella species are ubiquitous in natural waters as well as in man-made water systems. With regard to climate change, it is important to note the growth of Legionella species is most rapid in the 85 to 110°F range. A general recommendation for building operators with regard to control of Legionella growth in plumbing systems is to keep the cold water supply temperature below 68°F (Keane, 2009). The personal experience of the author, however, indicates that the cold-water temperature in buildings in warm climates such as in Honolulu or Miami can be in the 78 to 82°F range, thus approaching the lower optimal growing range for Legionella amplification. The cold water for many public water systems originates from water stored in large lakes or reservoirs. In Colorado, it has been estimated that by 2050 the outdoor air temperature could rise by at least 2.5°F to 5.5°F (McCurry, 2009). It would be logical to suspect that the temperature of water stored in reservoirs will also rise. Indeed, in a presentation on “Climate Change and Municipal Water Supplies” (Stickel, 2009), some tentative data is provided suggesting that the water temperature in an Oregon reservoir has risen about 0.3°F during the past decade. Additional historical (since 1965) data on raw water temperature is available from 2 the Portland Water Bureau (M. Sheets, 2010), and perhaps from other water authorities, to determine if warming is occurring in municipal water systems. If verified, this means that the temperature of mains water entering buildings will rise resulting in physical conditions in water pipes wherein Legionella and other microorganisms can more readily amplify. A temperature- monitoring program in municipal water supplies and in cold water entering buildings is needed to determine if climate change is affecting the Legionella amplification potential in potable water systems. 2.0 GEOGRAPHICALLY EMERGING PATHOGENS OTHER THAN LEGIONELLA THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT The IOM (2008) Global Climate Change report provides background information on the potential dispersal of pathogenic microbial agents into new geographic areas. El Niño type weather changes have affected the dispersion of both vector and non-vector disease agents such as those causing malaria, cholera, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (IOM, 2008, pg. 16). Some disease causing agents that were once geographically restricted such as the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which infects amphibians, are now worldwide in distribution. It should be recognized that dispersal of disease causing pathogens may also be caused by human activity (e.g., dispersal of spores on vehicle tires) as well as by natural weather events (e.g., dispersal by wind). Climate change and extreme weather events already appear to be involved in the establishment of microbial pathogens in new geographic niches. The emergence of Cryptococcus gattii on Vancouver Island (British Columbia) and its expansion into the Pacific northwest mainland provide an example of a serious and emerging indoor and outdoor environmental risk (Kidd et al., 2007; Byrnes et al., 2009). Cryptococcus gattii can cause life-threatening infection in humans and animals (Datta et al., 2009; Byrnes et al., 2009). Prior to 1999, Cryptococcus gattii infections were unknown in British Columbia, as the distribution of this pathogen was restricted to tropical and subtropical 3 areas. Since 1999, likely associated with El Niño/Southern Oscillation warming, this pathogen established itself on Vancouver Island. Subsequently, Cryptococcus gattii and its genetic variants expanded their range to include mainland British Columbia as well as Washington and Oregon in the USA. Cryptococcus gattii is found in the top 15 centimeters of soil (Kidd et all, 2005), on trees, in wood chips, in mulch, and in other natural reservoirs. Like Aspergillus fumigatus, its spores are readily aerosolized by soil disturbance (Kidd et al., 2007). It is well know that construction activities involving soil excavation are risk factors in the development of nosocomial Aspergillus fumigatus infections (Streifel, 1988). The infection risk from newly emerging pathogens like Cryptococcus gattii and perhaps other microorganisms such as Histoplasma capsulatum should be considered by public health authorities as a potential consequence of climate change. The risk of Cryptococcus gattii exposure in and around buildings includes new “green” landscaping such as installation of roof gardens (ASHRAE, 2009A, Strategy 2.6) and indoor atrium plantings where extensive use of mulch and organic soils (possible reservoirs of newly emerging pathogens) occurs. Dust suppression during construction and renovation are the primary environmental tools for control of nosocomial Aspergillus fumigatus infection. For newly emerging pathogens like Cryptococcus gattii, public health authorities should consider similar dust control actions to lower infection risk in both indoor and outdoor environments. 3.0 AIR-CONDITIONING AND CLIMATE CHANGE Air-conditioning enables people to decouple their indoor environment from the outdoor atmosphere. Comfortable temperature and moisture (humidity) levels in indoor air can be provided by a well-designed, operated, and maintained air-conditioning system. In buildings
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